Description
When Christianity spread to Ireland in
the fifth century AD, it confronted a country that
was divided into numerous small kingdoms and
lacking any urban centres that resembled the Roman
model. In the absence of these urban centres from
which a bishop could rule dioceses, individual
monasteries became power centres reflecting the
well-established practices of the landscape around
them. The early ecclesiastical sites such as the
one at Glaspatrick are looked upon as particularly
significant given their association with the new
religion brought to Ireland by Saint Patrick.
Indeed according to some sources the Charioteer of
the saint is buried at this site at Muiresc Aigli,
that is the plain between the sea and Mons Aigli,
the old name for Croagh Patrick.

For a site to be classified as an early
foundation its associated features must include any
three of the following: Name of an Irish Saint,
Enclosure, Church, Burial ground, Holy well,
Penitential stations, Leacht or (reputed) burial
place of the founder, early Christian cross slabs,
Bullaun stone, Souterrain and upright pillar stone.
The features at Glaspatrick include church remains,
burial ground and a holy well. There is also local
knowledge of a tall engraved pillar stone that
stood at the site, which today cannot be found.